Dial hand for radio receivers and the like



Aprili 194E. -g R g B ZSKYQW DIAL HAND FOR RADIO RECEIVERS AND THE LIKE Filed June 25, 1940 Patented Apr. 8, 1941 THE LIKE

Lester R. Snow, Winchester, Mass, assignor to J. H. Winns Sons, Winchester, Mass, a firm Application June 25, 1940, Serial No. 342,258

8 Claims.

This invention relates to dial hands particularly adapted for use in radio receivers and the like and has for its main object the construction of an ornamental hand at minimum expense.

One object is the provision of a button formed of translucent plastic material and adapted to be secured fixedly in an opening in the body portion of a metal hand.

Another object is the provision of ornamental designs on the front face of said button.

A further object is the provision of a tubular shaft-receiving. hub formed integral with said button.

These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

'For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawing, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

Of the drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevation of dial hand for radio receivers embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a horizontal section of the same on line 2, 2 on Fig. 1.

Figure 3 represents. a vertical section of the same on line 3, 3 on Fig. 1.

Figure 4 represents a rear elevation of the central plastic element or button of said dial hand.

Figure 5 represents a front elevation of a modified form of said dial hand.

Figure 6 represents a vertical section of the same on line 6, 6 on Fig. 5.

Figure 7 represents a front elevation of another modified form of said dial hand, and

Figure 8 represents a vertical section of the same on line 8, 8 on Fig. '7.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

In the drawing, III is the body portion of a dial hand for radio receivers having an ornamental extension II from the outer end of this extension ll projects a pointer Ill.

The body portion i0, extension II and pointer l2, are preferably formed integral of thin stamped metal.

radiating therefrom, and r The body portion i2 has a central opening] i3 therein which may be of any desired shape being shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 as round, and in Figs. '7 and 8 as square.

Disposed in the opening it is a button M of moulded translucent plastic material, such for instance, as Plastacele. Plastacele is the trade name of a Du Pont product No. C6505, and is a ruby red fluorescent cellulose acetate which has been found to be particularly well adapted for use in manufacturing the button M.

The outer end of this button I4 is convexandpreferablyhas projecting outwardly therefrom one or more ribs [5 formed integral therewith- In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, two ribs I5 are shown in parallelism, in Figs. 5 and 6 a plurality of "com centric ribs 15 are shown, and in Figs. 7 and 8 a single zigzag rib I5 is shown.

The inner end of the button It has a tubular hub It, the wall of which is provided with a plurality of slots l1 extending from its outer end, three of these slots being preferable. V r

The bore lfir of the hub'lfi is adapted to tight- 1y fit the reduced end 18 of a spindle or shaft l9 forming a part of the radio on which the hand is to be used.

The bore I69: is very slightly tapered so that when the button I4 is forced onto the end iii of spindle l9 it will firmly grip thereon. I

The portions of the tubular extension it between the slots H are provided with reenfo-rc ing ribs 20 extending endwise of said hub it.

The inner end of the body portion of button It is provided with an annular flange 2! which bears against the rear inclined Wall of the body portion ID of the dial hand.

The periphery 22 of the outer end of the member I4 is slightly tapered so that when the member 14 is forced through the opening i3 of the body portion ID of the dial hand, said hand will be firmly locked thereto, thus insuring the rotation of the hand with the button 14.

The opening [3 has a diameter about .002 smaller than the diameter of the tapered outer end 22 of the button I4, and when the outer end of the button i4 is pushed through the opening I3, the wall of the opening [3 will sink into the plastic material and prevent any displacement of the button.

Heretofore, dial hands for radio receivers have had the hub l6 formed as a separate element which must be soldered to the body portion [0 of the dial hand.

This soldering is expensive and not always effective. It is a slow operation and by dispensing with this operation and using the plastic button 14, the manufacture of the dial hands is greatly speeded up.

By the use of the plastic buttons M a more effective dial hand is produced at much less cost.

While ribs [5 are shown on the outer end of the button [4, it is obvious that any desired design may be moulded into the outer face.

These plastic buttons [4 may be of any desired color or finish while the outer face of the metal part of the hand may have a contrasting color which makes the entire completed hand very attractive.

The button l4 being translucent the rays of light from the radio lamps will be transmitted therethrough, causing a bright glow on the outer end of the button, thus increasing the decorative effect of the hand when in use.

When the button I4 is illuminated in this .manner, it willserve to indicate that the radio is in operation.

The front of the button l4 may be polished to make a nice finish.

It will be noted that the use of the button Hi formed of moulded plastic material has several distinct advantages.

For instance, it eliminates soldering, makes it possible to speed up production, reduces the cost of manufacture, makes it possible to combine metal and plastic materials in harmonizing and contrasting colors, and provides a means whereby a colored light may be shown on the face of the button, thereby giving a novel and useful effect.

The slots I! in the hub or bushing 16 are about when the latter is inserted into the bore of said hub or bushing I6.

In some cases the bore I 6a: may be moulded larger than .123 according to the diameter of the shaft to which the button is to be applied. For some shafts it is necessary to have a .250" bore.

thereof to a rotatable shaft of a radio receiver.

2. A dial hand for radio receivers as set forth in claim 1, in which said button is translucent and is provided on its front face with means for refracting rays of light.

3. A dial hand for radio receivers as set forth in claim 1, in which the front face of said button is provided with outwardly extending concentric ribs constructed and arranged with side faces for refracting rays of light.

4. A dial hand for radio receivers as set forth in claim 1, in which said button is provided with a rearwardly extending tubular hub to receive the end of a rotatable shaft of a radio receiver.

5. A dial hand for radio receivers as set forth in claim 1, in which said button is provided with an elongated rearwardly extending tubular hub having at its outer end spaced expansion slots in the peripheral wall thereof.

6. A dial hand for radio receivers as set forth in claim 1, in which the rear end of said button is provided with an annular flange constructed and arranged to bear against the rear face of said metal body portion.

7. A dial hand for radio receivers as set forth in claim 1, in which the central portion of said button extending through the opening of said body portion is tapered to tightly fit the inner .wall of said opening and prevent movement thereof relatively to said body portion.

8. A dial hand for radio receivers as set forth in claim 1, in which said button is provided with an elongated rearwardly extending tubular hub having at its outer end spaced expansion slots in the peripheral Wall thereof and reenforcing ribs on the periphery of said hub extending lengthwise thereof between said slots.

LESTER R. SNOW. 

